Generation
The tenshi sighed happily and snuggled closer to her hab'lan under the pile of warm furs. Lutra's breeding cycle had finally finished and she was sated and bonelessly content – except for one niggling worry.
*Aijin?* she stroked a hand down the Zasshu's smooth flank. 'lestrel stirred sleepily against her.
*Mmm?*
Lutra bit her lip.
*Don't be angry with Mikan, please...*
The prince forced open golden eyes clouded with exhaustion.
*... why?*
*She, um - * the tenshi blushed.
Her bondmate nuzzled her hair.
*Helped you cope with your cycle? I can hardly object.*
Lutra frowned.
*You don't? But – you've claimed me. I thought that meant sex with anyone else was out of the question.*
He sighed, really too weary to explain right now but knowing she wouldn't rest until he'd set her mind at rest.
*Zk'aida… I know that your cycle is like shizun. I know how difficult - impossible - it would be for me to cope by myself. And Mikan is female. I will not countenance another male with you - except for Ry, when I am there - but females… I would prefer it if you did not, but given my own needs…*
Lutra sighed, relieved, her weary mind grasping only the most important piece of information - Mikan wouldn't get into trouble for helping her. She wriggled as close as she could to her bondmate, tucked a soft, white wing around him and drifted down into sleep...
... only to be jerked awake by something A'lestrel had said that she'd almost missed.
Wait a minute? Ry?
*Hab'lan?* Lutra enquired quietly, but the Zasshu was already deeply asleep. Lutra smiled fondly and brushed a gentle kiss over his forehead, then relaxed back down into the furs again. She'd quiz him about it when they were both awake.
Lutra woke naturally some time later with no idea what time it was: the light outside the cave was muted by thickly falling snow. Beside her A'lestrel was still asleep, burrowed deeply into the furs. Mikan squatted down beside the nest the bondmates had made and handed her a beaker of something warm and fruity.
"Feeling better?" the warrior smirked.
"Thank you – yes." Lutra smiled shyly at the female as she accepted the drink. Mikan looked tired though, the tenshi couldn't help but notice. "Have you had any sleep?"
"A little," Mikan shrugged, "Can't say I won't be glad to crawl into my own bed though!"
Lutra smiled.
"I'll see that you get the time to rest uninterrupted. You deserve it." She added candidly. Mikan chuckled a little tiredly.
"Think nothing of it, Lu-chan."
The tenshi gazed solemnly at her friend.
"I – told A'lestrel how you... helped." she lowered her voice, "he said he didn't mind."
Mikan nodded, resisting the urge to smirk – this was something Lutra was obviously concerned about.
"Good. Thanks." She reached to brush a lock of shining gold hair away from the tenshi's face. "You're still tired, hina, get some more sleep. I imagine the prince will want to get you back to the city as soon as he's awake."
"You're right," Lutra yawned mightily, smiled sleepily then handed the now empty beaker back. She snuggled down beside her bondmate again and almost immediately dropped into a deep, restful sleep.
Mikan frowned down at the pair, nose wrinkling. A'lestrel's scent was definitely different…
Her eyes widened as she recognised it, and she grinned broadly to herself.
*Ry-sama?*
There was a sleepy *grunt*, then,
*I'm asleep! What'ya want?*
She forced herself to be dour.
*Oh, just wondering. Has 'lestrel been fucked by anyone in the family just recently?*
There was a brief silence.
*No - just the harem hito and me.*
*Mm. I thought as much. So how does it feel?*
*How does what feel? For fuck's sake Mikan, I'm trying to sleep!*
*Ah, yes, better make the most of it while you can…*
*Will you just fucking tell me what you're on about?*
She grinned.
*Well, if my nose isn't lying, you're going to be a father.*
A shocked silence, then, faintly, *… what…?*
*'lestrel. Smells like his highness is pregnant.*
*… oh FUCK…*
She woke to the sensation of a rough tongue lapping slowly at the scar on her neck.
*Aijin,* Lutra breathed happily, wrapping her arms around her mate's neck.
*Zk'aida – I'm sorry…* One of his hands was pressed gently against her lower belly, his tail wrapped tightly around her waist.
What was he sorry about? She frowned; not that he sounded all that sorry. No, if anything her hab'lan sounded almost fiercely pleased, and yet...
*What?*
*You didn't have a chance to take the contraceptive, did you?*
*No,* Lutra's nose wrinkled in confusion, *but what - ?* The tenshi looked into concerned, but rather smug golden eyes and froze. *Oh no - *
A'lestrel smirked broadly.
*Oh yes.* His grin faltered a little as she continued to stare at him. *Zk'aida?*
*I – don't, I – just - * she floundered helplessly. The Zasshu cuddled her tightly to him and sighed.
*I'm pleased,* he whispered, *I hope you can be too – though the timing could be better.*
Unable to form a coherent thought, Lutra couldn't do more than cling to her bondmate, her wings quivering in shock.
"Ssii'irin?" Mikan prowled to stand by the pile of furs, taking in the fiercely protective edge to the Zasshu's scent, Lutra's confused shock and yes, the slight change in her base scent. The warrior smirked, dark eyes twinkling.
"Well this should be interesting..."
As Mikan had predicted, A'lestrel had flown Lutra back to the city as soon as he was properly awake, leaving the Elite Guards to clear up behind them. The tenshi had protested, when her bondmate scooped her up, that she was still able to fly.
*Not as fast as I can, zk'aida.* 'lestrel had smirked.
They'd gone straight to the labs, where A'lestrel watched with interest as Vinas, monitor in hand, examined the tenshi. Lutra lay on the diagnostic bed, still in shock and shaking slightly, hand clasping her bondmate's tightly.
*Hab'lan…*
He bent to kiss her forehead.
*You're fine, zk'aida. Vinas is the very best, he knows all there is to know about hybrids, and he's thoroughly familiar with your own physiology.*
Now she was sitting on an examination couch in the medical centre while Vinas drilled her for information about tenshi-jin pregnancies.
"Now, do I understand this correctly?" the bio-tech frowned slightly as he consulted his notes. "The embryo stays dormant until the foetal sac is fully formed?"
"Yes, Vinas-sama." Lutra leant back into her bondmate's embrace. A'lestrel tightened his arms and tail around her, not quite glaring at the Feeodoreean. Vinas had more sense than to ask the Zasshu to leave.
"How long does it take for the sac to form?"
Lutra shrugged.
"Between twenty and thirty days."
"What if the sac doesn't form completely, or correctly?"
"The mother's body reabsorbs the nutrients and the embryo goes into suspended animation for a time, until hopefully she can produce another sac."
"And if she can't?"
"The baby dies and is reabsorbed."
"I presume this would only happen in the event there wasn't enough food available?" The biotech ghosted a tiny smile. "Not that that is likely to be a concern in this case." He became serious again. "So, the sac forms, is full of nutrients and the child develops in that?" Lutra nodded. "Like an egg – " Vinas mused. "Is it gestated internally?"
The tenshi blinked in surprise.
"Well, yes." What did he think she was going to do? Lay an egg and sit on it until it hatched?
"And how long do standard tenshi-jin pregnancies last?"
"Around three hundred days – Maurillan days."
Vinas tapped in the addition to his notes.
"What happens at the birth?"
"The membrane is broken," she glanced up at A'lestrel with a soft smile, "usually by the mother's mate."
"How?"
A small frown of annoyance appeared on the tenshi's face – this was getting very personal, very private. Behind her, A'lestrel tensed and his golden eyes narrowed.
"He reaches up – " Lutra flushed a little and lowered her voice, " – inside her..."
Vinas appeared to just notice his subject's agitation, and the low growl emanating for the Zasshu. He tilted his head apologetically.
"Your pardon, Lutra-sama, highness, but the more information I have now the better prepared we can be."
"I understand." the tenshi murmured then grimaced as her stomach clenched tightly and a wash of hunger-induced faintness swept over her. "I'm sorry, sir, can I go now? I have to eat..."
A'lestrel scooped his mate up without waiting for the biotech's reply.
"Yes, of course," Vinas said, rapidly surmising that the tenshi's increased need for nutrition at this point would mean a corresponding increase in her appetite. "I would like to monitor you daily for the time being…" He found himself speaking to A'lestrel's back as the Zasshu was already striding from the room. The biotech sighed and made a note for a follow up appointment.
Back at the palace the suite was warm, the children excited, Zha'haarak beaming, and Zh'leet had prepared a huge meal. The brood grinned and hustled the bondmates over to the sleeping platform, hovering over the tenshi delightedly as the prince lowered her onto the bed. He shook his head resignedly.
"Who told?"
She half closed her eyes, smirking.
"Does it matter? Fact is we all know."
A'lestrel eyed her warily.
"What have papa and maazi said?"
She stroked his mane.
"You'll have to ask them yourself. For now, eat."
He sat behind his bondmate, arms wrapped loosely around her waist, watching with bemusement as she shovelled an inordinate amount of food into her mouth. Jemiin was staring open mouthed, fascinated.
"'lestrel, s' Lu-Lu-chan turned into a Saiyan?"
He chuckled and ruffled the hostling's mane, suddenly wondering what his own sireling would look like. Would it have wings? A tail? What about colouring? Which genes would predominate…? He glanced up as a very anxious Ry appeared in the doorway, beckoning urgently to him.
*Can't it wait, Ry?*
*I'm sorry, aijin - no, it can't.*
He sighed and gazed tenderly down at his zk'aida.
*Will you excuse me, just for a moment? I'll be right back.*
She smiled up at him.
*You promise?*
He kissed her gently.
*I promise.*
"What's so important it couldn't wait until after our meal?"
Ry stared at the Zasshu helplessly, then laid a broad hand over his abdomen. Blinking his surprise, it was a moment before A'lestrel realised what he was doing…
The Saiyan choked back what sounded like a cross between a sob and a curse. His voice was a pained whisper.
"… I'm so sorry…"
Alarmed, A'lestrel laid his own hand on his belly…
Stunned golden eyes met Ry's remorseful black gaze.
"… two… but…"
Ry dropped to one knee.
"I didn't know, your highness, I swear I didn't know! I…"
Too dismayed to speak, A'lestrel stared down at the bowed head.
What the fuck was he going to say to Lutra…?
"Sire? Heika?"
Ry was peering up at him, scent fearful. A'lestrel was pale with shock: he shoved a hand through his mane.
"Stand up."
Ry rose, cautiously, very uncertain of the Zasshu's temper.
"I deeply regret… Sire, I didn't know… until it was too late…"
The golden eyes were distracted, miserable, and Ry had to force himself not to try to pull the prince into his arms. He felt almost light-headed at the thought - A'lestrel was hosting his brats… He scented the prince discreetly, very aware of the change in his scent and suddenly overcome with the desire to protect the Zasshu. Which was ridiculous since A'lestrel was so much more powerful than himself the thought was laughable… Oh fuck, he was going to be a father. Of princes. What was the Ssii'iin going to say?
And 'lestrel had only just discovered he was going to be a father himself.
What a fucking mess…
He gave into the urge, tentatively wrapping his arms around the fur-clad shoulders.
*I truly am sorry, aijin.*
A'lestrel leaned into his embrace for a moment, accepting the offered comfort, then straightened, gazing up into worried ebony eyes.
*It's happened, Ry. We must manage as best we can.*
*You know I will do everything I can to make it easier, don't you? Anything you want, anything you need…* he paused, eyes wide, as he remembered the hostlings' need for protein. Oh fuck, Lutra was not going to be happy…
A'lestrel sighed and nodded.
*I had better speak to her.*
*I'll come with you.*
The prince shook his head.
*No, aijin. I'll speak to her alone.* He pressed a hand against his belly - then smiled at the startled Saiyan, reaching up to kiss his mouth.
*If it had to be anyone, aijin - I'm glad it was you.*
He turned to re-enter the suite, leaving a stunned and suddenly happy Ry gazing after him.
Zh'leet - always the first to know if something was wrong - eyed the prince narrowly as he rejoined his bondmate.
"What's happened?"
He rubbed a hand tiredly over his eyes.
"I need to talk to Lutra first."
The brood frowned.
"I don't like the sound of that…"
Ignoring her, he took his drowsy mate's hand; the tenshi had cleared the platter and looked ready to sleep.
*Zk'aida…* he chewed his lip, lost for words. There really wasn't any easy way to say this. She eyed him expectantly, smiling tenderly. He sighed.
*You remember shizun came on unexpectedly? And that Ry was there?*
She nodded. He closed his eyes, other hand pressing his lower abdomen.
*I was fertile…*
There was a silence.
Lutra blinked slowly then her azure eyes became very wide and round. She involuntarily glanced down to where his hand rested over his flat, toned stomach, then looked back into her hab'lan's face.
*You're - * what was the word? *Hosting? And… and Ry...?*
*Is the sire, yes.*
She gasped, suddenly remembering 'haabron's hugely bulging abdomen.
*How many?*
He swallowed nervously.
*Two.*
*Oh,* she blinked again and offered a tiny smile, *that's not too bad.* The tenshi yawned. *I'm sorry, hab'lan, I'm very tired...*
He nuzzled her neck, only partly relieved. Quite what her reaction would be when she was awake and fully cognisant of the situation was debateable…
*Rest, zk'aida.* He hesitated for a moment. *I'm going to have to tell everyone, and the sooner the better - do you mind if I do that now?*
She yawned and snuggled under the furs, Jemiin cuddling into her side.
*No, hab'lan. 'course not…*
He kissed her forehead as she dropped into sleep - then eyed Zh'leet, who was almost bouncing with impatience.
"So tell me what's happened!"
He sighed. Really papa and maazi should be the first to know, but Zh'leet wouldn't give him any peace until he told her…
"I am hosting. Ry is the sire."
Zha'haarak nearly choked on his warmed glop. Zh'leet stared, her mouth open - then hissed manically, dragging over several furs and tucking them around him.
"Right; you'll go to see Vinas tomorrow - you can both go, he commed to say you left before he could make an appointment for Lutra-chan - and I'll make up extra quantities of glop. You'll have to speak with Zyelenyi, too, get your work-load reduced…"
A'lestrel waved his hands in a futile attempt to get her to stop, but the old brood was up and in her element…
Zha'haabron laid a cool hand very gently on Lutra's head, smiling down at the nervous tenshi.
"Are you well, Lutra? Is there anything you require?"
"Thank you, your majesty, but at the moment all I need to do is make sure I have plenty to eat."
The king nodded: so would A'lestrel. Hosting was an exhausting, draining business, and he was pretty sure his hostling hadn't realised quite what state he was going to be in, later on.
"Good. If you find yourself needing anything, you are to let us know. Now," he eyed the prince, "I trust you will forgive us if we borrow your bondmate for a little while? We need to talk."
That sounded ominous - but 'lestrel nodded resignedly, kissed her cheek and followed his maazi and papa into one of the side rooms.
Radittsu closed the door - then swept his sireling up into an enveloping hug.
"Baka… How are you feeling?"
Limp with relief - no, it hadn't been their fault, either of them, but he'd still been worried about his parents' reaction, he realised - he burrowed into his sire's mane, feeling like a tiny child again.
"It was an accident, papa. For both of us."
Zha'haabron had moved to his bondmate's side and was stroking his hostling's mane soothingly.
"We know, zk'viss. We're not blaming you. How has Lutra taken the news?"
The prince sighed.
"I don't really know. I had to tell her as soon as I knew, and she was too sleepy to take it in, I think."
"How do you feel about it?"
A'lestrel nestled against his sire's shoulder, eyes closed, scent… regretful.
"I wanted to wait. At least another ten years…"
"You are very young…" Zha'haabron eyed his Saiyan. "But we will give you all the support you need, both of you. As will Ry."
"You've… you've spoken to him?"
Radittsu growled a short laugh.
"He came to us, about as apologetic as I've ever seen any Saiyan."
"You mustn't be angry with him."
"We're not."
"Because I think Lutra's going to be. Annoyed, at any rate. She doesn't know anything about hosting…"
"Ah."
A'lestrel sighed.
"Can Ry move into the suite for the duration?"
Radittsu frowned.
"Is that wise, with Lutra in the state she's in?"
The prince winced.
"Papa, this is going to be difficult enough as it is. I'd rather he was near."
Zha'haabron nodded.
"He has, effectively, been part of the family for years - now he is in actuality. I will make sure he is aware of his responsibilities."
"Maazi, please don't be harsh."
The zn'hre smiled and stroked his hostling's cheek.
"I will be gentle, zk'vissin. I know he is very fond of you…"
"Fond!" Radittsu snorted. "Goes way beyond fond, even if the baka doesn't realise it yet!"
Zha'haabron raised an eyebrow: his bondmate grinned unrepentantly.
"Well, it's true!"
"He is also very fond of Lutra."
Radittsu smirked.
"Suppose I'd better tell him he's staying, then. That won't take long - he's next door."
A'lestrel froze, visions of blood and dismemberment flashing before his eyes.
"… next door…?"
"He arrived just after we came in here. He's been speaking to Lutra." He chuckled at the fear in his sireling's face. "Don't worry, she hasn't killed him…"
Lutra anxiously watched her hab'lan, flanked by his parents, disappear into a side-room. She was distracted by movement at the suite's balcony door and turned her head to find an obviously apprehensive Ry watching her.
"Lutra – " he began, only to falter at her narrow-eyed hunter's stare. Ry eyed the tenshi warily as she stood up from the sleeping platform and stalked towards him. "I'm sorry, I honestly didn't realise –"
"Shut up." Lutra hissed at him, cutting him off with a curt gesture. She glared up at the Saiyan then huffed a disgruntled sigh. "To be honest I don't know how I feel about any of this."
"I'm sorr –"
"For fuck's sake stop apologising!" she snapped, rustling her wings in agitation. "It was an accident - I know this!" the tenshi folded her arms across her breasts and glowered at nothing in particular. "This goes beyond anything, everything I'm familiar with. But I suppose congratulations are in order," she grumped, then half-smirked at him, "and I guess I'd rather it was you than anyone else."
The look of relief on the big male's face would have made her giggle, if she hadn't been distracted just then by a fierce pang of hunger. Ry frowned.
"Sit down, torii-chan, I'll get you something to eat."
Lutra staggered back to the sleeping platform, her arms wrapped tightly around her middle while the Saiyan darted into the cool store, almost colliding with Zh'leet as the brood had the same idea.
"Here, give her this," she thrust a platter of meat cutlets at him, "there'll be some more in a few minutes."
Ry hurried over to the tenshi, scooping up a chunk of meat and holding it out to her. Lutra grabbed the meat and gratefully tore into it while the Elite watched in wry amusement.
"Are you going to need to eat like that all the time?"
"No," she shook her head and reached for another piece, "just for the next twenty days or so, then my appetite will go back to normal."
Ry smirked fondly.
"With Zh'leet hovering over you, you won't need to worry about going hungry."
Lutra grinned around a mouthful of meat then swallowed hastily as her hab'lan emerged from the side-room.
A'lestrel gazed at his bondmate and aijin and sighed with relief. They still had a lot to organise - and Lutra was not going to be happy about his need for Ry - but at least they weren't at each other's throats.
He moved to sit beside his bondmate, gesturing for Ry to settle beside him, then wrapped an arm around both, resting silently for a minute or two, then deciding he might as well get it over with.
As dispassionately as he could, he *explained* to his bondmate that he would need Ry to fuck him at least once a day, and why…
"Your highness, you should take a guard."
'raadiin smirked at Gh'heegonan.
"You worry too much, old lizard. Who would possibly want to harm me? Who could harm me?"
"Nevertheless…"
The prince scowled.
"It's just a training flight. I'm not even going very far."
'raadiin was feeling restless. He'd stayed behind on R'ren'nkh'ia when the rest of the family had left, to spend a little time with 'fallon and the latest brood, but was beginning to regret it. He missed Ry, and Kiraz, and Radittsu… A good long tiring flight across the desert should have him feeling better. If Gh'heegonan ever let him go!
The Regent was scowling.
"How long will you be gone?"
'raadiin snarled.
"I don't know!"
"I really don't think…"
"It doesn't matter what you do or do not think. I am going. Do not send anyone after me."
He'd left before the Regent could object or arrange a guard, flying low in a completely different direction to the one he'd told Gh'heegonan. And it was wonderful, just himself, the scorching desert, and the wind of his flight in his ears…
Something caught his eye, something on the ground. He slowed and flew lower, frowning. Some sort of transport, halted on the desert floor, a va'ha'da and a shr'en'an standing beside it. Curious, he landed, hissing a greeting. The va'ha'da raised a hand.
"Greetings! We had not hoped to find help, out here!"
'raadiin inclined his head.
"What's wrong?"
The shr'en'an indicated the transport, which on closer sight had lost one of its tracks, effectively immobilising it - and there appeared to be smoke billowing from one of the drive compartments.
"Badly maintained. I will have words with the owner when we return. In the meantime, can you help us? We're not completely certain where we are, and we have perishables to deliver to the Bri'tinil enclave."
'raadiin thought for a moment, eyes on the ground - and thereby missing the sinister glance that the two lizards shared.
"I can alert my kin: we can have someone here to repair the damage in a matter of hours…"
The va'ha'da nodded.
"That would be most helpful. My colleague here can explain what is required - perhaps we can offer you hospitality while we talk? We have some excellent wine…"
Well, it was hot, and a drink would be most welcome… 'raadiin nodded.
"Thank you."
He followed the shr'en'an into the transport - and froze, eyes widening.
"What…?"
He'd never seen one with his own eyes, only read about them, and *seen* fleeting glimpses in his sire's memory. It was an ugly thing, solid metal, the bars thin but sturdy, the cuffs also metal - and barbed on the inside…
Something stung his neck. Seconds later he felt himself falling to the floor, unable to move a muscle, landing heavily on his back. Immobile but still conscious, he was aware of the pair ripping off his scanty clothing and lifting and shackling him spreadeagled to the rack, the barbs on the inside of the wrist and ankle cuffs biting into his flesh. Then the va'ha'da held his head still as the shr'en'an fastened the metal bridle over his face, forcing his mouth open to take the wide, long metal spike that would prevent him biting - or speaking. That done, the shr'en'an produced another syringe, injecting the contents roughly into the zn'hre's neck.
'raadiin could move again - but it caused such pain he saw white, and had to stop struggling. And he realised, with a sudden dull feeling of terror, that whatever they'd given him nulled his ki, and left him unable to *speak*. He gazed up at them, helpless fear in his eyes. This should not be happening…
The va'ha'da shoved two fingers roughly into his chitsu, nodding to his colleague.
"Good. Blunt. How long will that dose last?"
"About five hours."
"Have another one ready. We may as well take full advantage of the opportunity!"
The shr'en'an grinned.
"Want to go first?"
In answer, the va'ha'da stripped off his loincloth and stood beside 'raadiin's head, flaunting his massive, triple-headed erection.
"This is all for you, pretty thing. And if we like you well enough, we'll take you home and keep you." His smile faded into a snarl. "Call it payback for the bastard so-called High King making you whores more important than us."
He moved away, and without warning rammed viciously into the prince. 'raadiin tried to scream, back arching, the spike in his mouth cutting into his tongue, the rising pain so intense he thought he'd die, but that release was denied him as the va'ha'da pounded hard and fast and came, copiously, claws digging into his captive's hips…
He yanked out, hard, laughing at the helpless tears streaming down the prince's face, and relinquished his place to the shr'en'an. Who fucked him slowly, relishing every shiver, every expression of pain that passed over the zn'hre's face. He finally came, one hand gripping 'raadiin's lax inkei bruisingly hard, and pulled out - and the va'ha'da took his place, leering down into 'raadiin's face.
"Now this is just where your type should be…"
He thrust in again, ignoring the blood trickling down the prince's thighs, as 'raadiin whimpered in pain, closing his eyes tightly. He thought, distantly, that they'd have to kill him, once they'd decided they'd raped him enough. They didn't dare let him live, not after this. Papa would kill them, very slowly and very painfully.
If he ever knew what had happened…
His back arched, the barbs on the fetters biting deeply into him as the va'ha'da tore into him, tore him, inside, semen stinging against raw flesh. It was unbearable, but he had no choice except to bear it. The drugs saw to that.
As the shr'en'an laughed and positioned himself again, 'raadiin closed his eyes in despair. They weren't even going to allow him the mercy of unconsciousness.
'fallon. Maazi. Papa.
Kiraz.
Ry…
© 2003 October 27th Joules and Amanda
